Arsenal plan to beat Barcelona to midfielder signing?

Arsenal are prepared to beat Barcelona in the pursuit of Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The Gunners were heavily linked with the Belgian star last summer, but refused to meet the Foxes' £40m price tag for his services.

Tielemans will enter the final six months of his deal in January and it is claimed that the Gunners could make a fresh approach for him.

The 25-year-old has been in superb form for the Foxes over the past few weeks and his displays have also caught the eye of Barcelona.

The Catalan giants want to sign him on a free transfer next summer, but Arsenal could beat them to Tielemans with a mid-season deal.

Barcelona are currently focused on free transfers and this could benefit the Gunners in prising away Tielemans at the start of the year.

Brendan Rodgers recently said that Tielemans won't be sold in January, but a package of around £20-25m could test the Foxes' resolve.